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Education

A.B., University of California, Berkeley, 1986 University and Departmental Highest Honors Awarded John Gardner Fellowship for Public Service

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California

District of Columbia

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French

Spanish

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Laura Jehl is a partner in the Business Trials Practice Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Jehl specializes in privacy, data security, “Big Data” and technology issues, and serves as Co-Leader of the firm’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice. She is also a Co-Leader of the firm’s Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency Practice.

Areas of Practice

Ms. Jehl advises clients in connection with cybersecurity and data breach matters, as well as US and international data privacy, data transfer and “Big Data” issues. Ms. Jehl represents also represents clients on Internet, digital media, and First Amendment matters, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (“ECPA”), national security- related privacy matters, social media and online games, digital currencies and blockchain technologies, as well as healthcare privacy issues.

Ms. Jehl played a leading role in developing and executing Anthem, Inc.’s response to a major cyberattack in January, 2015, in which hackers accessed the personal information of more than 80 million individuals, and has helped clients respond to other significant data security incidents across a variety of industries. She advises clients on all aspects of data incident response, including working with forensic security consultants and crisis communications firms, conducting internal investigations, interactions with law enforcement, and compliance with data breach notification laws. Ms. Jehl helps Boards and senior executives balance privacy and cybersecurity risks with business opportunities. She also develops incident preparedness strategies and table top exercises to help companies mitigate the risks presented by data breach incidents.

Previously, Ms. Jehl served as General Counsel, Chief Privacy and Security Officer at Resolution Health, Inc., (“RHI”), a healthcare data analytics and personalized communications company, which was acquired by Anthem, Inc., the Fortune 50 health insurer. In addition to serving as RHI’s General Counsel, with responsibility for the company’s legal and privacy matters, Ms. Jehl, who is CIPP/ US certified, assumed responsibility for privacy matters across the Anthem enterprise. At Anthem, Ms. Jehl also served as principal legal counsel for innovative healthcare technology development initiatives.

Earlier, Ms. Jehl served as Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel at America Online, Inc. (AOL), where she played a formative role in the development of internet law, most notably the Internet Service Provider (ISP) immunity provisions of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the development of privacy policies and protections for AOL users, the legal battle against junk email, and achieving, on behalf of AOL subsidiary Netscape, a significant settlement of its “browser-war” antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft. In addition, Ms. Jehl led AOL’s response to a number of high-profile government investigations, including early Federal Trade Commission investigations into privacy matters. Ms. Jehl also played a leading role in gaining US and EU regulatory approval of AOL’s merger with Time Warner in 2000, then the largest corporate merger in history. Ms. Jehl later held a business role as Chief of Staff to AOL’s Vice Chairman, where she was responsible for strategic corporate initiatives and operations involving AOL’s technology development, marketing, legal, corporate communications and HR departments.

Prior to joining AOL, Ms. Jehl was a litigator in private practice in Washington, D.C. She received her B.A. with highest honors in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Speaking Engagements

"Retail in Flux: What You Need to Know About Brexit, the Changing Legal Landscape Regarding Privacy and Data Protection, and US-UK Tools for Online IP Enforcement," Sheppard Mullin New York MCLE Program, September 14, 2016

"The Panama Papers Threat: Preparation and Response," California State Bar, International Law Section Webinar, August 31, 2016